Absalom Roper, Harrison Roper

Absalom Roper b1817 married Eliza b1829. They had at least 3 children: Harrison b1845, Isaac b1848 and Mary E b1850 (1850 census). In the 1860 census, Absalom is married to Malinda Gilliland b18341 and there are 4 children listed: Harrison, Isaac, Nancy b1852 and John b1856. There is no Mary E in the 1860 census. I don't know who Nancy's mother is as I have no information on her beyond the 1870 and 1880 census, but I do know that John's parents were Absalom Roper and Malinda Gilliland Roper2.

In the 1870 census, Harrison is married to Susan Gilliland (see footnote 1) and is still living in Pickens county with the following children: Anderson b1863, William b1864, Isaac b1865 and Thomas b1866. Absalom and Malinda have only one child with them in the 1870 census: Nancy. In the 1870 census, Isaac is married to Amy Camilla Durham3 and has one child, William b1870. They are living in Cherokee Co., GA. They also had Susannah (Anna) Roper in 1871 (see footnote 3).

By 1880, the census shows Harrison as having Willie, Thomas, John b1872, Nancy A b1875 and Martha b1878. I don't know what happened to Anderson and Isaac. In the 1880 census Absalom and Malinda have Ellen M Roper listed as granddaughter. She is the daughter of Harrison and Susan.4 I believe something was already happening to the Harrison Roper family. Both Harrison and Susan were dead by 1883 and Martha Roper was adopted.5

In the 1900 census, Absalom is married to Nancy Mauldin.6 By then, Melinda Ellen Roper was married to William Moore7, Martha Eugenia Roper was married to Langdon Dinkis Spann8, and Nancy (Nannie) Roper was married to Charles Norris9. Also Susannah (Anna) Roper, daughter of Isaac, was married to Hayden Jubal David, II and living in Texas. (see footnote 3).

1V.39, p.85: Pickens Co. SC Book B, p.55: David Gilliland owned 150 acres on waters of Oolenoy Creek adj. to lands of Absalom Roper & wife Malinda...Harrison Roper & wife Susan. ..18 May 1861. Roper, Marcus, Box 64, #690. Probate Judge Office. Pickens, SC Susan Hendricks dtr of Larkin Hendricks decd. who died in Pickens Dist. whose will was proven 6 Oct 1862. Wife of Marcus Roper. On 18 May 1861 Absalom Roper wife Malinda and Harrison Roper wife Susan were the dtrs of David Gilliland decd of Pickens Dist. From Roper Families in SC - L David Roper 2John A Roper death certificate 3Descendant of Amy and Isaac Roper 4January 30, 1950 obit of Melinda Ellen Roper Moore lists her parents as Harrison Roper and Susan Gilden[sic] – it also lists her surviving sister as Mrs. Mettie[sic]Spann of Greenville. 5Family tradition has it that she was adopted by Ben and Sue Johnson when she was four. It also shows in the 1900 census when she and her husband were living with the Johnsons and she was listed as their daughter. 6 At the residence of Mr. A. Mauldin, Easley, Oct. 19, 1882 by Rev. J. W. Hutchins, Mr. Absalom Roper and Miss Nancy Mauldin. - South Carolina Baptist Deaths and Marriages 1866-87 7 January 30, 1950 obituary of Melinda Ellen Roper Moore and 1900 census. 8 1900 census 9 1900 census